Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.

In response to DNA damage, the eukaryotic genome surveillance system activates a checkpoint kinase cascade. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, checkpoint protein Crb2 is essential for DNA damage-induced activation of downstream effector kinase Chk1. The mechanism by which Crb2 mediates...

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Main Authors: Meng Qu, Bing Yang, Li Tao, John R Yates, Paul Russell, Meng-Qiu Dong, Li-Lin Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-07-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3390401?pdf=render
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author Meng Qu
Bing Yang
Li Tao
John R Yates
Paul Russell
Meng-Qiu Dong
Li-Lin Du
author_facet Meng Qu
Bing Yang
Li Tao
John R Yates
Paul Russell
Meng-Qiu Dong
Li-Lin Du
author_sort Meng Qu
collection DOAJ
description In response to DNA damage, the eukaryotic genome surveillance system activates a checkpoint kinase cascade. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, checkpoint protein Crb2 is essential for DNA damage-induced activation of downstream effector kinase Chk1. The mechanism by which Crb2 mediates Chk1 activation is unknown. Here, we show that Crb2 recruits Chk1 to double-strand breaks (DSBs) through a direct physical interaction. A pair of conserved SQ/TQ motifs in Crb2, which are consensus phosphorylation sites of upstream kinase Rad3, is required for Chk1 recruitment and activation. Mutating both of these motifs renders Crb2 defective in activating Chk1. Tethering Crb2 and Chk1 together can rescue the SQ/TQ mutations, suggesting that the main function of these phosphorylation sites is promoting interactions between Crb2 and Chk1. A 19-amino-acid peptide containing these SQ/TQ motifs is sufficient for Chk1 binding in vitro when one of the motifs is phosphorylated. Remarkably, the same peptide, when tethered to DSBs by fusing with either recombination protein Rad22/Rad52 or multi-functional scaffolding protein Rad4/Cut5, can rescue the checkpoint defect of crb2Δ. The Rad22 fusion can even bypass the need for Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (9-1-1) complex in checkpoint activation. These results suggest that the main role of Crb2 and 9-1-1 in DNA damage checkpoint signaling is recruiting Chk1 to sites of DNA lesions.
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spelling doaj.art-f23732e122474e99b20841e685aca8802022-12-22T01:05:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042012-07-0187e100281710.1371/journal.pgen.1002817Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.Meng QuBing YangLi TaoJohn R YatesPaul RussellMeng-Qiu DongLi-Lin DuIn response to DNA damage, the eukaryotic genome surveillance system activates a checkpoint kinase cascade. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, checkpoint protein Crb2 is essential for DNA damage-induced activation of downstream effector kinase Chk1. The mechanism by which Crb2 mediates Chk1 activation is unknown. Here, we show that Crb2 recruits Chk1 to double-strand breaks (DSBs) through a direct physical interaction. A pair of conserved SQ/TQ motifs in Crb2, which are consensus phosphorylation sites of upstream kinase Rad3, is required for Chk1 recruitment and activation. Mutating both of these motifs renders Crb2 defective in activating Chk1. Tethering Crb2 and Chk1 together can rescue the SQ/TQ mutations, suggesting that the main function of these phosphorylation sites is promoting interactions between Crb2 and Chk1. A 19-amino-acid peptide containing these SQ/TQ motifs is sufficient for Chk1 binding in vitro when one of the motifs is phosphorylated. Remarkably, the same peptide, when tethered to DSBs by fusing with either recombination protein Rad22/Rad52 or multi-functional scaffolding protein Rad4/Cut5, can rescue the checkpoint defect of crb2Δ. The Rad22 fusion can even bypass the need for Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (9-1-1) complex in checkpoint activation. These results suggest that the main role of Crb2 and 9-1-1 in DNA damage checkpoint signaling is recruiting Chk1 to sites of DNA lesions.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3390401?pdf=render
spellingShingle Meng Qu
Bing Yang
Li Tao
John R Yates
Paul Russell
Meng-Qiu Dong
Li-Lin Du
Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
PLoS Genetics
title Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
title_full Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
title_fullStr Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
title_full_unstemmed Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
title_short Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Crb2 and Chk1 are essential for DNA damage checkpoint.
title_sort phosphorylation dependent interactions between crb2 and chk1 are essential for dna damage checkpoint
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3390401?pdf=render
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